Mississippi Heat

Madeleine

Van der Linden Recordings

Led by songwriter, harmonicist, and band leader Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat returns with their 13^th album in time to celebrate their 30^th anniversary. As one of the longest running bands, per usual theirs is the traditional Chicago blues sound with wailing harp, stinging guitars and several terrific vocalists. In the band’s tradition, they call on the best living Chicago blues greats as guests – guitarists/vocalists Lurrie Bell and Carl Weathersby, keyboardist Johnny Iguana, and drummer Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith.  These four join a formidable lineup that already features vocalists Inetta Visor and Daneshia Hamilton, guitarist/vocalist Michael Dotson, guitarist Giles Corey, bassist Terrence Williams, and keyboardist Chris “Hambone” Cameron. The in-demand Memphis horn team of Marc Franklin and Kirk Smothers grace four tracks. Background vocalists (A.K.A. “NADIMA), who have worked with Aretha Franklin, Otis Clay, and Stevie Wonder – Nanette Frank, Diane Madison, and Mae Koen appear on five tracks. Finally, percussionist Ruben Alvarez sits in on two tracks. Lacocque penned nine of the dozen tracks with two from Dotson and one from Visor. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Grammy winner Paul Blakemore and co-produced by Lacocque with Grammy and BMA winning producer/engineer Michael Freeman.

Lacocque is Israeli-born and raised by Christian parents in Belgium. He has lived in and traveled to many countries but has become a Chicago institution, consistently counted in to deliver blues the right way and promote the city’s traditionalists. In addition to those named above, Billy Flynn, Barrelhouse Chuck, Bob Stroger, Robert Covington, and James Wheeler are among the names that have worked with the band.

The album, indirectly has quite a back story named for Lacocque’s maternal grandmother Emma Magdalena (Madeleine) Van der Linden, affectionately known as “Mamy.” The instrumental, poignant harmonica-led title track is for her.  She lived through two World Wars and lost her eldest son at the age of 17, passing at a concentration camp in northern Austria. Like his father, the son had been involved in Resistance activities. Lacocque’s grandfather was imprisoned and tortured by the Nazis. He twice faced firing squads and was rescued by a local priest who attested to his innocence. Both sets of Lacocque’s maternal and paternal grandparents in Belgium, were involved in Resistance, helping Jewish families and providing food for the poor. This level of generosity and democracy has clearly made its mark on Lacocque’s musical philosophy. He is willing to share the stage with greats while also providing a platform for the emerging talents.

Among the highlights are the opener “Silent Too Long” sung by Carl Weathersby fronting the core band, the debut of young West Side vocalist Daneisha Hamilton who sings on “Batty Crazy,” “Nothin’ I Can Do,” “Ridin’ On a Hit,” and “At the Lucky Star.”  Longtime vocalist Inetta Visor takes the mic for “Havana En Mi Alma,” “Empty Nest Blues,” and her own closing “Trouble.” Michael Dotson’s tunes add just a touch of variety to those from the leader, as Dotson leads “Everybody Do Somethin’” and the especially memorable “Truth Like Rain.” Guitar fans will note Weathersby’s leads on the tunes that Visor sings while Lurrie Bell somehow always stands apart, whether singing, playing guitar, or both as when featured on “Uninvited Guest.” His signature guitar also colors “Nothin’ I Can Do” and the title track. You may also detect Johnny Iguana’s rollicking piano on “Batty Crazy,” “Ridin’ on a Hit” and “Truth Like Rain.” Make no mistake; the core band does a terrific job. These guest spots, horns, and background vocalists only add more depth and colors. To some, it may seem a bit overdone, but the superb mixing job lets it breathe more freely than expected.

We can always count on Mississippi Heat to deliver original material steeped in Chicago blues traditions with perhaps a few other flavors such as Latin, jazz, and zydeco. Lacocque’s harp soars throughout but plenty of other musicians get their say too. This is blues done the right way, thirty years on.

• Jim Hynes

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